Spring-fitting for vehicle-axles



J. C.l H. GRANT. v SPRING HT-HNGfFoH VEHICLE AxLEs,

.l i PPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1919.

edsept. 21,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.l

J. c. H. GRANT. SPRING FITTING FOR VEHICLE AXI.ES.

APILICATION FILED APR. 23. 1919. 21,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

bush m Aas shown,

Unir

sraras an 'r herria. r j

JosonLrNn c. H, GRANT, or crianza BRIDGE, nRrrIsH Elisir AFRICA. i

SPRING-FITTING FOR VEICLE-AXLES.

'1,353,4vc. i

East Africa, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Spring-Fittings for Vehicle-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the spring mountings of automobile vehicles. It vhas for object toV provide an improved connection between the springs and the road-wheel axles of such vehicles,rwhich will lessen distortion of or strain upon the parts, and also mitigate shocks. orjars'which would other-A wise be imparted to the vehicle.I

According tol the present invention, terpose between spring andthe roadewheel axle',l a hinged'or pivoted joint which, while holding the spring and axle together, will allow relative hinged or pivotal movement to take place between said parts'. i r

rlhe invention ishereafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is apart sectional view and part elevation of a spring mounting for a vehicle embodying my invention. c j

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view and part elevation taken at righty angles tol Figi l.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing the action of the device.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the axle a is as usual normally disposed parallel to the plane of the chassis and is provided with a steel or other bracket Z carried by the axle and having a circular socket Z in which is fitted a bush m of phosphor-bronze or the like. A saddle n to which the laminated spring b is secured, carries two parallel plates or lugs 0 adapted to fit over the ends of the socket Z and bush m, while a swivel lpin or bolt p' passes through these parts and secures them together, so constituting a'pivot'al attachment. rlhe bolt p is its length at p to communicate witha grease cup Q by means of which lubricant may be supplied through the passage 20" and greaser in! ways p2, m to the sliding surfaces.

The bolt p is located eccentrically of the and allows space for a secondbolt or stop-pin s Awhich passes through parallel to the bolt p; this pin s is the laminated or other,

drilled axially for a portion of.v

Specification of Letterslatentf' Pa-,Qted Sept. 1920. Application filed April 23, 1919. vSerial No. 292,034. ii fitted tightly inthe lugs 0 but travels freely ina slotm2 in the bush 'm so as not to impede the rocking motion of the joint necessary to allow for positions of the axle other than parallel to the plane of the chassis, due t0 deflection of one spring more than the other. Thus .this construction aifords a means for obviating torsional stresses 'on the springs. T he length of the slot m2 may, however, be arrangedv to limit this motion as desired and to steady the vehicle automatically when centrifugal action occurs. Y Y- In the normal position, when the axle and chassis are horizontal, the stop-pins 8 are at the inner ends of the slots intheir respective bushes mLbut when the' axle .moves rela'- tively to the chassis so that these lparts are no longer parallel, thelposition .of-the center of one` of the two sets of fittingsy on the axle;

end of the axle has rotated counter-clockwise with theY axle, the stop pin sin thiscase traveling in the slot mi and thereforeallowing the bush to rotate." 'By vthis motion the distance between'the eccentric pivot bolts p,

measured along the axle, has been increasedk proportionally to the angle of inclination;

this increase compensates for the decrease in the horizontal distance between the centers of the bushes. In the one case the center of rotation is the axial center ofthe bushing m, and in the other case the pin p. Consequently the horizontal distance Abetween the attachments of the springs will remain substantially constant for any lpracticable inclination of the axle in relation to the chassis. n

Upon the returnof the axle to its normal horizontal position, the right-hand bush fm.` which has rotated is automatically restored to the'position shownv in Fig. 3, by the load acting on the eccentric pivot bolt p, and byv the friction of the inclosing socket, resulting in a movement proportional to the eccentricity of the bush. The `final positions of the two bushes are limited by the stop-pins engaging the ends ofthe slots asl'seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

These slots are curved concentrically of.v

so' as to occupy the-inner end of the slot 'in' the normal position.

The stop-pins s also eral prevent relative lat-Y whole vehicle being canted onan angle, Afor the stop-pins bear on the inner ends of the working slots m2 in the bushes, and, .therefore, movement can only take place by the Vswivel-ing;of the axle.

.Felt retaining washers Vt for the lubricant are shown fitted in circular grooves around the bushfm. Y

The pivotall joint is usually incased in a leather orsimilar sheathing to exclude dust, wet and thelike What I claim is l. A spring fitting for vehicle axles, comprising interengaging; members secured Vto thespring and the axle respectively, a cylindrical socket upon onelioflsaid members,

lugs upon the otheroll said members, said lugscoveringopen endsof said socket, -a revoluble bush mounted in said socket, means for securing` said bush to said lugs, and means forlimiting the relative rotation between said socket and bush..

2. A spring -iitting for vehicle axles, coniprising nterengaginga members secured to the spring and the'axle respectively, a joint connecting, said members to allow partial relative rotation on an. axis perpendicular to the axle, Vand means for limiting their relative movement. y

Aispringlitting for vehicle axles, comprising finteren', g;aging members secured to the spring and the laxle'res] oectively, a swivel joint connecting-V saidmembers, said swivel v movement of the `axle to chassis due to thev action of centrifugal vforce or to theV lindrical socket upon one of the said Y pin, said stop joint allowingpartial relative rotation oi'k said members on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axle, means for limiting said rotation to onev direction fromthe normal position, and means for preventing separaltion of said members. I

4. A spring fitting for vehicle axles, ycomprising interengaging members secured' to thespring andthe. axle respectively, a cymembers, lugs upon theotheroisaidy members, said lugs coveringthetopen ends of said socket-,1.a revoluble bush mountedV in said socket, a'swivel 'pin-1 connectingsaid lugs through said bush, sai'dpln beingvlocated eccentrically-to `said bush, anda stop pin parallel to said swivel pin andalso connect` ing said lugs through said bush',isaid bush slotted to allowmovementvofsaid stop-pin concentrically=to s aid .swivel pin. i Y 5. YA spring fitting for vehicle aXles,.coInprisingafsocket secured tothe axle, a bush revolublein said socket, azswivel pin, said socket, bush and pin having-their axes perpendicular'to the'lengthy of the axle, means for connecting, said swivel pin to the spring and YaV stoppin secured to wsaidfconnecting means parallel .to said swivel pin, saidl bush being A,slotted ,concentrioally to said swivel the stopgfpins 'of fttings'on said bush, and

resti-ngV normally at the adthe samev axle jacent inner ends of saidslots when theaxle is parallelv tothe vehicle.

:pin-traveling in-.the slot in A Intestimony whereof .I haveaiiixed my' signature in presence of twoiwitnesses.;

JGSCELINEV C. H.' GRANT.

Vitnesses :v l I EnNEsnT: `I-Iovwlnn, i, CYRIL vJ.v FEENY. 

